Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program at Yale University

Since 2004, The Starr Foundation has contributed more than $36 million to Yale University’s Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program—a signature leadership initiative of the International Leadership Center at the Jackson School of Global Affairs.

Every year, the World Fellows Program selects 16 to 20 exceptional mid-career professionals from some 4,000 applicants worldwide to come together on Yale’s campus to expand their vision, learn from each other, and grow personally and professionally. The four-month residency gives fellows time to focus on a project of interest and brainstorm how to bring it to fruition, away from the pull of their jobs and day-to-day concerns, while building a powerful and diverse peer network. World Fellows also contribute to Yale’s intellectual life, give talks and participate on panels, take classes, and mentor students.

Today, the World Fellows network consists of more than 400 leaders contributing to their communities in 96 countries, including

• the late Alexei Navalny, Russia’s leading opposition and anti-corruption activist, who died in an Arctic Circle prison in early 2024 after being severely poisoned and jailed by Russian authorities;
• María Corina Machado, former Venezuelan member of Congress and the foremost opposition leader to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro;
• Roz Savage, British athlete, member of Parliament, environmental activist, and the only woman to row solo across the world’s “Big Three” oceans;
• Andriy Shevchenko, former Ukrainian parliamentarian, civil activist, and prominent journalist; and
• Cuban artist and activist Tania Bruguera, recognized as one of the 10 most important contemporary artists in the world today.